News & Events

SJC to Host Speech Competition

November 6, 2013

On Thursday, November 7, Saint Joseph’s College will host a speech competition in the Courtney Auditorium in the Rev. Charles Banet, C.PP.S. Core Education Center. The competition begins at 7:00 pm CST. Admission is free and all are welcome to attend.

Headed by SJC Assistant Professor of Communication Rochelle Robertson, the competition features speakers competing for a $50 cash prize. Students and faculty members will judge the speeches, which must focus on ways to improve the SJC campus.

Robertson is excited to hold the competition for the second year in a row. As a student at SJC, Robertson competed in a speech competition organized by Assistant Professor of Communication and Dean of Freshmen Heidi Rahe. Robertson’s speech, “Is America in Decline?,” took first place. Her experience as a student led her to want to offer the same opportunity to current students, especially with the recent approval of the Communication major.

For more information on the speech competition, contact Professor Robertson at 219.866.6376 or rrobert@saintjoe.edu.

Named a "character-building college" by the Templeton Foundation, a "Best Midwestern College" by the Princeton Review, and “Best Value” and "Best Midwestern College" by US News & World Report, Saint Joseph's College is a four-year, Catholic college offering 27 majors, 4 group majors, 35 minors, and 9 pre-professional programs, complemented by the nationally acclaimed Core Program. Founded and sponsored by the Missionaries of the Precious Blood, SJC is located in Rensselaer, Indiana, approximately 90 minutes from both Chicago and Indianapolis, on a park-like campus of 180 acres and has an enrollment of nearly 1,200 students.

Start Your Major Freshman Year

Like Elementary Education major Brittany Cooper ’12, you start your major as soon as you walk in the door, so you will have four years of knowledge and experience in your field.You can even change your mind about your major and still graduate on time with lots of experience.

Core and the major work in harmony to develop the cognitive skills requisite for success in a competitive, global society. Students better understand the forces that shape the future by exploring the past. They discuss contemporary events; analyze the impact of science on our understanding of humanity and the universe; and investigate diverse cultures and world civilizations.

Mentorship

Small colleges offer you personal attention; SJC professors, such as Communication Professors Fred and Sally Berger, do more for you—they serve as mentors. Studies show that having a mentor leads to success in your field. Alumni often tell us how their professors not only played a major role in their success, but also became lifelong friends. If you are undecided about what to major in, we help you decide.

High Quality Academics

In the Core Program, you will be inspired to debate, analyze, and solve problems. Discussion of culture and society, the modern world, and Christian Humanism are just a few highlights of the Program. New perspectives will be gained, your worldview will expand, and you will graduate from SJC as a well rounded, highly marketable person.

Leadership

You get more deeply involved at SJC, so you get more meaningful experiences that prepare you for career and life. LaMichelle Sanders ’14, for example, has spent two summers helping Chinese study abroad students adapt to life in the U.S. and at SJC. If you want to start a club or activity that doesn’t exist, we encourage you to start one. At SJC, prepare yourself for what you want to do in life.

Real-life Skills

Because of the skills you develop by having the Core Program interact with your major for four years in addition to internships, job shadowing, and service learning, you get hands-on experience in preparation for your career or graduate school. Students Hanna Kane ’14, Emily Baird ’15, and Alyssa Guarnaccia ’14 collect food in the SJC hoophouse to be distributed on campus. You will also get four years of analytical, writing, and speaking skills that will serve you well for the rest of your life.